Nancy K. (Hayward) Wheeler
Nancy Wheeler Obituary
Our beloved Nancy Kay Wheeler left us peacefully on November 12, 2024, at BridgePointe Health Campus in Vincennes, Indiana. Nancy was the daughter of Ray and Glenna Hayward of Stroh, Indiana. In school she was active in 4-H and choir. She also began what would be a 50-year membership of the Order of the Eastern Star, following in her mother’s footsteps.
She married soon after high school and started her family. Her life journey led to several places including Defiance, Ohio, when she married Ronald K. Wheeler July 18, 1981. They later moved to Jacksonville, Florida. In 2017, she moved back to her home state to Vincennes after Ron’s passing.
She enjoyed traveling to explore the mountains, historic sites, or walking the beaches. Along the way she collected shells, cardinals, and lighthouses and a Danielle Steel novel was usually packed for the car rides. Later in life she discovered the joy of taking a convertible ride for a cheeseburger and spending evenings on the porch with her little dog by her side.
Nancy had a twinkle in her eye when making a funny remark, but the true lights of her life were her family and friends. Her walls were adorned with family photos following her children and their families through the years. She loved to share their stories with her best friend since kindergarten Gloria Jesswein.
Carrying her spirit forward are her son Allan (Tracy) Deetz and their sons Alec, Tyler and Travis; daughter-in-law Kristi Deetz and children Kenneth and Elizabeth Deetz; and soon-to-be eight great-grandchildren.
Nancy has now been reunited with her husband, parents, brothers Donald Hayward, Doug Hayward, and Billy Joe Hayward, and son Brad Deetz.
Funeral services will be at 2:00pm on Saturday, November 16, at Schaffer Funeral Home, 529 Jefferson Avenue, Defiance, OH. Visitation will begin prior to the service at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Brad Deetz Broadcasting Scholarship at Vincennes University. Giving instructions may be found at vinu.edu/give.
The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the people of BridgePointe and Good Samaritan Hospital Hospice for their compassion and care during Nancy’s final days.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Nancy K. (Hayward) Wheeler, please visit our floral store.